by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The 15th annual Caramel Roll Ride will be held Saturday, June 14 on the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail.
Check in and registration is from 8-10 a.m. Helmets are required.
Almost 300 people participated in the ride last year. Delicious, sticky caramel rolls are available at various locations on the ride.
The ride begins in Albany. There is a northern, western and eastern ride. The eastern ride begins in Albany and travels east to Avon, then to the Collegeville/SJU link and to St. Joseph for a total ride of 15 miles or 30 miles round trip. Eastern riders can check out the annual Celebration of the Arts event in Avon and can travel an off-trail ride at St. John’s University.
The northern ride begins in Albany and travels to Holdingford, then to Bowlus, then to the Mississippi River and then to Hwy. 10 for a total ride of 23 miles or 46 miles round trip. Northern riders can view the longest covered bridge in Minnesota at Holdingford. Hamburgers and brats will be sold by the Lions Club and the Minnesota Bike Club.
The western ride begins in Albany and travels to Freeport, then to Melrose for a total ride of 12 miles or 24 miles round trip. Western riders can include a tour to Hemker Park and Zoo at Freeport and the Whispering Oaks Winery south of Melrose.
Money raised helps provide for the Lake Wobegon Trail Association’s promotion of the trail. Part of the proceeds of the ride will go toward efforts to plant more trees and shrubs along the trail and also toward efforts to extend the trail to the Mississippi River in downtown St. Cloud for the Saintly Seven project.
Early registration at www.LakeWobegonTrails.com before June 1 guarantees reduced registration fees.